Don’t be alarmed by the bras hanging from the ceiling. It’s part of the authenticity and grit that has kept Jeremy’s Ale House going for decades. Before there were ironic dive bars, New York was filled with working-class watering holes where Budweiser was the drink of choice. Jeremy’s is one of the few long-standing, no-frills bars left.

For more than 40 years, locals have come here for the ice-cold beer, famously served in massive 32-ounce (950 ml) styrofoam cups, which have made the spot well known around the city – especially for those seeking an affordable night out. But don’t come for just the beer: Jeremy’s has a huge menu of classic bar food like burgers, onion rings, and fries, plus fresh oysters and crab cakes from Long Island.

While the spot itself is compelling enough for me, I love that it’s located in the Seaport District. Front Street, where the bar most recently moved in 2004, dates back to the American Revolutionary War. It’s all cobbled streets and 18th-century buildings on the lower Manhattan waterfront – one of the few places in the city where it’s pleasant to hang out by the water.